A specific program implemented at Plunkett Street Public School to support the writing component of the English Syllabus is the Story Factory Writing Program.
At the beginning of each school term, the coordinator of the program works closely with each class teacher to prepare a series of lessons related to the class topic or focus. Each week volunteers support the students in their writing tasks, scaffolding the activities to support individual student needs. The activities culminate in a final product at the end of each term. Topics covered relate directly to syllabus outcomes. This year the senior class spent term one looking at how a newspaper is put together. The students selected an area of the newspaper that they were interested in, then worked with their mentor to plan, research and write a piece for the newspaper. Once they were ready for publishing, the students added illustrations, graphs, maps etc, to support their writing. The paper was distributed to the community. Term two focus related to Art and Artists. The students had the opportunity to meet artists and visit galleries to enhance their understanding and inspire their writing. The Story Factory Writing Program supported the junior class during their Project Based Learning term. The terms' work involved the students and mentors researching specific attractions or places of interest in Woolloomooloo, then presenting their information on a walking bus tour. The students ‘built a bus' then ‘drove' parents and community members around the local area presenting their information as a speech to their audience. In 2017, the Story Factory supported the students in learning about the geographical area of Kakadu National Park and assisted in the establishment of writing buddies from a school in the Northern Territory.
